Theology Thursday
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Isn’t Christianity just the worst? I mean you can see what everyone’s worried about can’t you? Wouldn’t it just be awful if Christians kept spreading and with them, this repellent ideal of loving God and neighbour?
Now, of course I’m being a bit flippant. There’s two problems aren’t there. Firstly, Christians aren’t always as loving as they should be. If only Christians followed this command a little more consistently. Then perhaps it would be so much easier to criticise the anti-Christian mob.
But surely this points us to the answer. The problem is not Christianity, but Christianity practised poorly! Christianity is not the problem. It’s the solution.
Imagine a world where more people centred their life on loving God with all their being and their neighbour. No other world-view offers this glimmer of hope. One day, for those who trust in Jesus, our hope will be realised in Jesus and the new creation.
However, this raises the second problem. What is the shape of this love. Everyone can generally get onboard of the idea of loving. Even loving God and loving people to a certain extent. Even the Beatles were keen - all you need is love.
But the real question is, what is the shape of this love. This is where we clash with our culture. Loving our neighbour is qualified by the love of God. If we love God then we listen to Him as God. We submit to His definition of love. Which unfortunately isn’t our world’s.
In spite of this, we can have confidence. Western cultures definition of love is based on the sandiest of platforms - human reason, sinful desire and knee-jerk reaction. Whereas the Christian definition of love is built on a God who is love, made love, made us to love and showed us the ultimate expression of love in Jesus Christ, who gives us reason to love others and who teaches us the deepest principles of love.
Let’s love God and others today as we look forward in hope.
For Today:
Pray:
Passages: Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Corinthians 13, John 14:15, Luke 10:25-37
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Isn’t Christianity just the worst? I mean you can see what everyone’s worried about can’t you? Wouldn’t it just be awful if Christians kept spreading and with them, this repellent ideal of loving God and neighbour?
Now, of course I’m being a bit flippant. There’s two problems aren’t there. Firstly, Christians aren’t always as loving as they should be. If only Christians followed this command a little more consistently. Then perhaps it would be so much easier to criticise the anti-Christian mob.
But surely this points us to the answer. The problem is not Christianity, but Christianity practised poorly! Christianity is not the problem. It’s the solution.
Imagine a world where more people centred their life on loving God with all their being and their neighbour. No other world-view offers this glimmer of hope. One day, for those who trust in Jesus, our hope will be realised in Jesus and the new creation.
However, this raises the second problem. What is the shape of this love. Everyone can generally get onboard of the idea of loving. Even loving God and loving people to a certain extent. Even the Beatles were keen - all you need is love.
But the real question is, what is the shape of this love. This is where we clash with our culture. Loving our neighbour is qualified by the love of God. If we love God then we listen to Him as God. We submit to His definition of love. Which unfortunately isn’t our world’s.
In spite of this, we can have confidence. Western cultures definition of love is based on the sandiest of platforms - human reason, sinful desire and knee-jerk reaction. Whereas the Christian definition of love is built on a God who is love, made love, made us to love and showed us the ultimate expression of love in Jesus Christ, who gives us reason to love others and who teaches us the deepest principles of love.
Let’s love God and others today as we look forward in hope.
For Today:
- Do you think Christianity is the solution to being a more loving world?
- What is one way you could you love God more today?
- What is one way you could you love your neighbour?
Pray:
- Praise the Father that He is perfect love.
- Give thanks for Christ who loved the Father and His people perfectly.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others love Him more and love those around us.
Passages: Exodus 20:1-17, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Corinthians 13, John 14:15, Luke 10:25-37
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